The proposal, aimed at speeding up justice in local communities, immediately came under fire as “an expensive way of making the courts less efficient”.

Mr Green said that thousands of people would benefit from the flexible court sittings, which will include live video links with prisons and police stations.

“We want the justice system to respond further and more effectively to the needs of victims, witnesses and the local community. I am extremely pleased that thousands more people up and down the country will benefit from flexible courts in their communities,” he said.